Chapter 43

Chapter 43
## Chapter 43: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

The mages maintained an intense level of discipline, likely because this wing was populated entirely by high-ranking figures.

*Indeed, Hoffman must be a rather demanding superior.*

When Lion was a child, even when he wept, threw massive tantrums to avoid treatment, and tried to flee, Hoffman never yielded an inch and carried out his examinations regardless.

If he was that unyielding with a young child, how much stricter must he be with the personnel working under him?

*Of course, I don’t need to be nervous anymore.*

“…This is the entrance to Mr. Hoffman’s personal chambers.”

Following the mage, I stepped into a massive private space that seemed to occupy half the entire level.

*This rivals a well-established corporate suite.*

The private quarters featured a heavy, thick door, and the windows were lined with opaque glass to keep the interior hidden from view.

Naturally, a Tower Master of Asteri’s stature ought to operate on this scale, I figured.

A moment later, a secretary stationed outside the private room—having evidently received word from downstairs—offered Lion a polite greeting.

*Creaaak!*

Before anyone could even announce him, the heavy door swung entirely open.

“You have arrived.”

Hoffman himself had stepped out to meet him.

“Gasp!”

While the accompanying mage lowered his head in utter astonishment, Lion greeted the Grand Master with casual familiarity.

“Hello. Have you been well?”

“Certainly. And who might this be?”

Lion offered a brief introduction of his guide without dragging up the previous events.

“He is the mage who showed me the way.”

“I-I am Lepios, a newcomer, Grand Master!”

“I see. Thank you, Lepios, for bringing Lion here safely.”

“Not at all! I am honored to be of service!”

Lepios bowed deeply toward Hoffman before casting a look of intense appreciation in Lion’s direction.

*Grand Master. Hoffman clearly commands immense respect among the mages.*

I merely meant to give him an opportunity to leave a positive impression; I hadn’t anticipated such deep gratitude.

Are professional connections and factional ties a factor here as well?

…I have no idea. Let’s not dwell on it!

“Come inside. I need to review your current physical condition as well. Mage Lepios, you are dismissed.”

“Yes, sir! And Young Master, I shall never forget today’s kindness. Please stay well!”

After bidding farewell to the departing Lepios, Lion walked inside alongside Hoffman.

The interior of the private suite proved even more staggering than the approach.

Not only was the decor exceptionally luxurious, but an array of advanced medical instruments was crammed densely into the vast area.

It looked remarkably like a modern, high-tech general health screening facility.

No, this place actually appeared superior.

Examining the machinery closely…

『Magic Treatment Tools (Rank Indeterminate)』

* These are auxiliary devices designed to cast precise healing magic.
* Comprises a set of twenty magical apparatuses, including a comprehensive scanner, body viewer, vital activity monitor, reagent analyzer, and medical record extractor.
* Client: Hoffman Asteri

The entire setup appeared custom-built.

*Given the sheer scale, it’s only natural the rank cannot be quantified.*

Lion had previously been placed inside that medical equipment on numerous occasions to undergo grueling examinations.

The mere memory of those experiences instinctively sent a shivered jolt down his spine.

*Hmm?*

Did I really detest it to that degree?

It sounds like a case of genuine psychological trauma.

Lion quietly stroked his arm to steady himself.

*It’s fine. I won’t be subjected to pain anymore, so there’s no reason to feel anxious.*

Fortunately, as if his body understood, the physical reaction faded quickly.

“How is your physical condition holding up?”

“I haven’t experienced any unusual symptoms since then. I came primarily for the checkup, but I also wanted to see you.”

“Ah, me? Hoho…”

Hoffman’s expression melted into a momentary warmth.

To think that the child who used to sob uncontrollably has matured so dramatically!

“…Indeed. We can converse at length later. Shall we commence the examination now?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

Lion calmly stepped up onto the examination table.

—

A short while later.

Following the thorough examination, Lion stepped down from the table without a trace of discomfort.

Unlike before, he felt zero pain.

A Mana Circle had successfully formed, and while it remained unseen, his overall physique had strengthened, making the recovery entirely natural.

“It will require roughly an hour for the diagnostic results to compile, so please wait a moment.”

Hoffman sat down at his desk, manipulating a spell to pull data directly from the diagnostic devices.

The processing time was understandable given the depth of the scan.

“In that case, may I look around the room while we wait?”

“Of course. Just ensure you don’t break anything.”

“Haha…”

He spoke as if addressing a small child, but Lion decided to let it slide.

Hoffman was, after all, the person who had witnessed Lion’s most vulnerable childhood years, so the attitude was understandable.

*There are numerous fascinating items here; I should take a look.*

The broader his knowledge base grew, the more the ‘Expert’s Eye’ skill would develop, making this an ideal opportunity.

Lion ambled slowly around the expansive chamber.

Hoffman’s workspace functioned much like a specialized research institute.

There was the healing magic zone he had observed earlier, while another corner featured towering stacks of documents that reached the height of a grown man.

And further inside…

*Hmm?*

Pushing open an inner door, I encountered a wide assortment of chemical apparatus.

Inside what appeared to be a secured display case sat a neat arrangement of specialized reagents, each bearing a distinct label…

『Tentacle Prohibition』

* Exercise caution, as there is a risk of severe injury.
* Do not handle unless you are a qualified expert.

Even a stern warning tag like that was attached.

“What are these?”

Hoffman picked up a pair of uniquely shaped lenses, peered through them toward Lion, and answered.

“This is where I handle potion restoration and recovery research. Speaking of which, you’ve always held an interest in alchemy, haven’t you? The project documentation is resting on that table, so feel free to look through it.”

Hoffman added that it might prove beneficial to his studies before sliding his glasses back into place and returning to his calculations.

*…It literally says ‘Tentacle Prohibition’?*

Is this the inherent privilege of being born into elite circles?

Regardless, since I have his permission to explore, I might as well step inside.

Rather than disturbing Hoffman further, I walked into the alcove and picked up a nearby portfolio to inspect.

However…

『Hero’s Potion Recovery Plan』

“…”

Hero?

Lion scratched his cheek and turned his gaze toward the stored potions.

“And… this is designated as the Hero’s Potion?”

Lion narrowed his eyes as he inspected the vials kept under heavy security magic.

『Disease Treatment Potion』

『Sustained Recovery Potion』

『Self-Immunity Potion』

Aren’t these merely standard, run-of-the-mill potions?

*They are formulations unlocked at best during the apprentice tier.*

Furthermore, these were concoctions I hadn’t even bothered utilizing back when I played the game.

“Then, what about those over there?”

Additional substances caught his eye, though they remained in raw reagent form rather than finished mixtures.

Inspecting them closely…

They appeared to be the base components for a 『Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion』.

“Hmm.”

Lion quietly shut the door and re-examined the completed potions one by one.

This situation…

*There is a distinct problem here!*

First, the three variations kept in finished potion form.

They appeared deeply unfavorable from Lion’s perspective.

“Surely, they aren’t planning on releasing these to the public in this state, are they?”

No, that seemed unlikely.

Normally, even after a pharmaceutical formula is perfected, a considerable duration passes before commercial distribution begins.

This buffer exists because both therapeutic efficacy and potential side effects must undergo rigorous verification.

“…”

A deeply unsettling premonition crept over him.

While calling them Hero’s Potions was a minor exaggeration, he couldn’t simply pretend to possess insider knowledge here.

Officially, Lion had zero association with the Hero.

And maintaining that distance was crucial.

Navigating away from those thoughts, I stepped back outside just as Hoffman finished his tasks and stood up from his chair.

Hoffman’s facial expression…

appeared remarkably complicated.

“The diagnostic results are finalized.”

“Yes.”

“How do you feel about them?”

“…Congratulations, Lion. There is genuinely no abnormality whatsoever within your body.”

The outcome confirmed his expectations: his physical state was entirely clean.

“Haha, as expected, right?”

“Good grief…”

Hoffman wore a look of disbelief, but Lion remained completely nonchalant.

I genuinely am fine.

No matter how many times Lion insisted he was healthy, people consistently struggled to believe him.

It was understandable, given that his natural complexion remained quite pale.

Since his face always looked drained of color regardless of whether he felt stellar or terrible, misunderstandings were inevitable.

*…It’s simply that my natural skin tone is fair.*

Good heavens.

Hoffman muttered under his breath in astonishment before seeming to recall something and lifting his head.

“Now that I think about it, you haven’t eaten a single thing today due to the fasting required for the examination.”

Lion gave a small nod.

The fundamental rule of a comprehensive health screening is maintaining an empty stomach.

Although Hoffman hadn’t explicitly reminded him, Lion—recalling his past experiences—had abstained from eating since the previous evening.

“Let us dine first.”

When Hoffman pressed a desk console, a secretary promptly delivered a meal.

*Oh, I get a complimentary meal out of this too.*

In the past, such a luxury would have been entirely unthinkable.

That applied to both his stressful corporate days and his hazy childhood memories.

Receiving this kind of hospitality while working at a corporate firm?

I would have grown immediately suspicious, and since the younger Lion was usually half-unconscious or carried out after a single examination, he never had the chance to eat here.

Recalling those times made this mealtime feel wonderfully comfortable.

And naturally, the food tasted exceptional.

“This is remarkably good.”

“The Magic Tower maintains a high culinary standard. It keeps the personnel motivated to work harder.”

“…”

It sounds intimidating, but there’s undeniable truth to his words.

You certainly shouldn’t skimp on provisions. Quite right.

“By the way, are those potions we looked at earlier ready for commercial release?”

“Are you referring to the Hero’s Potions?”

When Lion nodded, Hoffman spoke with considerable pride swelling in his tone.

“They are currently entering the final stages of completion.”

“…What?”

The final stages of completion?

As Lion froze mid-motion with his fork hovering in the air, Hoffman—mistaking his reaction for sheer shock of admiration—began to elaborate enthusiastically.

“Haha, you appear genuinely startled. These formulations were developed through a collaborative effort between myself and the top authorities in alchemy within the Magic Tower, so disbelief is understandable. As you are well aware, magic’s approach to treating illnesses has historically lagged behind divine intervention, hasn’t it? But with these new creations…”

For the next ten minutes or so, Hoffman expounded at length on the revolutionary greatness of the Hero’s Potions.

Unfortunately, however, not a single word registered in Lion’s mind.

*…They are actually going to commercialize those?*

Recalling the exact potion descriptions he had just inspected.

『Disease Treatment Potion (Counterfeit)』

* A concoction produced by attempting to mimic a specific legendary potion through sheer effort and materials.
* Effective for treating illnesses only on the initial use; subsequent uses suffer a 99 percent reduction in effectiveness.
* *This potion is a counterfeit. Please exercise extreme caution.*

『Sustained Recovery Potion (Counterfeit)』

* Mimicking a specific potion through effort and materials…
* Provides continuous stamina recovery for the first two uses, but starting from the third use, effectiveness drops by 99 percent…
* *This potion is…*

『Self-Immunity Potion (Counterfeit)』

* Mimicking a specific potion…
* Effective only once… 99 percent of its potency is lost.

This was the harsh reality Lion had witnessed firsthand.

Whether due to not being crafted by a true Hero or resulting from a deeply flawed developmental process, the utility of these potions was pathetically low.

Yet if products like these were pushed out to the commercial market…

The treatments endorsed and guaranteed by the Magic Tower would ultimately be exposed as a massive scam.

*How terrifying.*

While continuing to listen to Hoffman’s explanation, Lion slipped a careful question into the conversation.

“That is truly remarkable. Have you conducted live trials on actual subjects?”

“Indeed. Every trial yielded exceptional results.”

Yes. They undoubtedly saw initial results.

The critical issue was that the effect was strictly a one-time gimmick.

“At this point, only the mass-production phase remains. We plan to officially launch production in about a week.”

A week from now?

*This is a critical emergency.*

Lion swallowed hard, his throat dry.

If things proceed unchecked, the Magic Tower will effectively transform into a den of fraudsters.

What fate awaits Rikschel under those circumstances?

He will end up the master of a fraudulent tower.

*This is serious…*

And there is no straightforward way to halt it.

For one, I hold no official affiliation with the Magic Tower, meaning I cannot secretly intercept or sabotage the materials, and secondly, my true combat capabilities must remain hidden.

While people were partly pursuing Lion for his personal power, the more pressing underlying danger revolved entirely around Rikschel.